Purpose :
While current literature suggests that wavefront-guided technology is safe and effective for the retreatment of both residual myopic and hyperopic refractive errors after primary laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), it is not clear if it results in better visual outcomes than conventional retreatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of wavefront-guided versus conventional retreatment using the Visx laser after LASIK.

Methods :
This retrospective, observational case cohort study evaluated patients undergoing retreatment with wavefront-guided or conventional therapy with the Visx laser at Boston Eye Group from October 2007 to May 2013 for myopic residual refractive error following wavefront-guided primary LASIK. Medical records were reviewed. Demographic information, pre-operative data, and post-operative data were collected and analyzed. The main outcome measures included uncorrected visual acuity, ablation depth, and requirement for additional retreatment.

Results :
There was no statistically significant difference in uncorrected visual acuity post-retreatment with either wavefront-guided or conventional retreatment for residual myopic refractions. There was a statistically significant difference in ablation depth between the two groups, with wavefront-guided retreatments requiring about 42% greater depth for treatment profiles. It was also noted that 7% of wavefront-guided retreatment patients required an additional retreatment.

Conclusions :
Wavefront-guided retreatments do not lead to better visual outcomes while resulting in more corneal stromal ablation than conventional retreatments.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.